Henley Royal Regatta in Full Swing on Day Three

Henley Royal Regatta in full swing after more nail-biting racing on Day Three

With six events starting and the Quarter Finals for The Wyfold, The Britannia and The Prince Albert Challenge Cups getting underway, the pressure of the competition begins to rise.

The Morning Session: 

Conditions: clear blue skies and sunshine

Forging the final four
The day started off with some solid racing from London R.C. and Mercantile R.C. in The Britannia Challenge Cup, making the most of the flat water and sunshine. The Aussies put in a great performance to win their heat and secure passage to the final four. Mercantile will now be gearing themselves up to go against holders Thames R.C. in the Semi-Finals. The second race of the morning was the Quarter-Final of The Wyfold Challenge Cup which was won by Upper Thames Rowing Club, who will face Thames ‘A’ at the Semi-Final stage.

An Oar-ful Moment
All eyes were on Race 28 in The Fawley Challenge Cup as Lea Rowing Club – whose tussle with Hinksey Sculling School was developing an intriguing contest – caught a boat-stopping crab, allowing their opponents to scull away in relative comfort.

Schoolgirl Sculling Supremacy
Wycliffe College progressed both of their crews into the Quarter Finals in The Diamond Jubilee Challenge Cup. Given the depth on show in this premier program, an all-Wycliffe Semi-Final seems plausible.

Aussies outflank Americans
The standout race of the morning was the heat between Winter Park, USA and St Catherine’s School of Australia in The Prince Philip Challenge Trophy. With both crews desperate to progress in this extremely competitive event, it was the Australians from New South Wales who cruised on into the next round with a superb display of rowing that sends a strong message to those watching on from afar. This Trophy promises to be captivating throughout.

The Afternoon Session:

Conditions: slightly cloudy with some sun breaking through. Winds are starting to pick up.

Whitemarsh Whitewash
Kicking things off after a sun-soaked luncheon were the junior boys from Whitemarsh Boat Club of Philadelphia in The Fawley Challenge Cup. Exhibiting remarkable prowess on the water, the ‘A’ crew displayed an uncompromising spirit, extending their lead from two and a half lengths at the Fawley marker to an impressive three lengths at the finish.

It’s a good Tyne to be at Henley Royal Regatta
In a thrilling contest between Tyne A.R.C. and Mercantile in The Wyfold Challenge Cup, it was the former who first broke an early deadlock to nudge their bows in front. From there, Tyne dictated the terms of the race, setting the stage for a captivating Semi-Final between the boys from Newcastle and Marlow Rowing Club.

Triple Dutch disappointment
Despite a significant Dutch Entry into this year’s Regatta, it is the formidable home contingent that continues to push the boundaries in The Island Challenge Cup. Newcastle University made short work of A.S.R. Nereus, securing a lead within seconds and cruising over the line with a three-length margin. Elsewhere in The Island Challenge Cup, Durham triumphed over Aegir by nearly a length, and Edinburgh completed the triple triumph with a decisive victory over A.A.S.R. Skoll.

The Evening Session:

Conditions: overcast and windy.

Stick or Twist?
In increasingly difficult conditions, this round of The Diamond Challenge Sculls saw Alex Twist of the USA start his race well but, try as he might, he could not contain the superior horsepower of Lyu from China. The Chinese international edged away with power in the middle third to win by four and a half lengths.

Blue blood is thicker than water.
The 2024 edition of The Silver Goblets and Nickalls’ Challenge Cup kicked off with the German Djekovic brothers battling it out against Oxford University to claim spots in the second round of racing. After a punchy start from the German siblings, it was Oxford who responded by pushing out into a lead which grew from three quarters of a length to four and a half coming past the finish line.

Pressure Pays for Pink Palace
After the Tideway Scullers’ School stretched out to an early lead of a length in their heat of The Fawley Challenge Cup against Leander, it was left to the pink-clad youngsters to respond. Attack upon attack led to a Scullers’ crab in the face of near-unrelenting pressure, which allowed Leander to row through their opponents and claim victory by a mere foot.

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